INTRO 4, Getting a Signal Into GarageBand (mics, electric guitar/bass, etc.) [HOME] In this activity, we'll be exploring various ways to get/record music into GarageBand.
METHOD #1, AUDIO IMPORT. The first way involves importing externally recorded audio, such as a track from your favorite CD, into GarageBand. Our goal is to create a 30-45 second "clip" of a track you'd like to share with the class.
Here are step-by-step instructions for creating your sound clip:
Download an audio file from the web, or a flash drive, or insert a commercial audio CD into the CD tray of the computer. An icon representing the CD appears on your computer desktop. Double-click the CD icon (it is really a folder) to open it and drag-and-drop the track you want to the desktop (this copies it).
Open GarageBand. Now drag-and-drop this file into the TRACK WINDOW of GarageBand. GarageBand will set up an audio track automatically.
In GarageBand, use your knowledge of the edit features to select an approximately 30-second excerpt from the track (i.e. make some cuts and delete the extra audio). If the TIMELINE is not showing MINS./SECS., toggle the LCD to "Time" mode.
Tracks in GarageBand allow for automating volume changes. Open the AUTOMATION area for the track that contains your audio; do this by clicking on the small triangle near the track name. By clicking "control points" along the automation line, create a fade in and fade out to the beginning and end of the excerpt.
Automating Volume in a Track with GarageBand (10)
Audition your sound clip to be sure it plays as desired, then EXPORT it to iTunes.
Play your excerpt for the class, sharing any background information about the music that you think would be helpful or interesting.
METHOD #2, USB MICROPHONE. Using a USB microphone is one of the easiest ways to get a great signal (voice, instrument) into GarageBand!
We have a few Blue Microphone "Snowball" mics in the lab. These are easy to setup and configure and produce a great signal, so I encourage you to use them whenever appropriate. The Snowballs work especially well for solo voice, voice-over narration, horns, and full-room recordings of loud signals (jazz band, etc.).
For this activity, our goal is to setup a Snowball mic with 1 or 2 other classmates, then record yourself either speaking or singing or playing an instrument for NO MORE THAN 10 SECONDS EACH. Here's how:
Plug in the Snowball mic to your computer's USB port.
Now setup a GarageBand file with one "Real" voice track.
For this, and any of the microphone schemes below, you will need to tell GarageBand which INPUT SOURCE you are using. You can do this both in the GarageBand PREFERENCES and in the SMART CONTROLS AREA. HERE ARE DIRECTIONS FOR CONFIGURING A USB MIC WITH GB (v10).
With the playhead at the beginning of the file, click the RECORD button and begin speaking, singing, or playing. If speaking, speak about 3" from the microphone. If playing, you can be further away.
PLEASE watch the track's VU METER to be sure your signal is strong but without clipping. (NOTE: If you hear a steady clicking, turn off GarageBand's metronome!) After recording, rewind and playback to audition how it sounds. Play your recording for your teacher.
METHOD #3, AUDIO INTERFACE. The lab owns two M-Audio USB Mobile Pre audio interfaces that accepts XLR (standard microphone) and 1/4 phone (standard guitar, bass, or keyboard) jacks. You may want to use this interface to record an electronic instrument DIRECTLY into a GarageBand track.
Our goal in this activity is to record both an XLR microphone and an electric guitar or bass. Normally, we will set up stations and have small groups of students experience each.
Connect the unit to your computer's USB port with a USB cable. Connect a mic or instrument cable to the unit's proper input port. NOTE: Condenser mics (like our M-Audio Luna and our Studio Projects B1 mic) require the "Phantom Power" button to be pressed. Dynamic mics (like our Shure SM58 and SM57) do not require phantom power.
Open the computer's System Preferences and select SOUND. From the sound INPUT area, choose Mobile Pre. There should be a slider to set the input level. Adjust this so the sound of the incoming signal (voice in mic, guitar, etc.) is strong but not clipped. Leave the OUTPUT settings alone ("Built-in" is fine).
Now setup a GarageBand file with a appropriate "Real" audio track.
Go to the GarageBand Preferences and confirm or choose the Mobile Pre. You may need to ask your teacher or a classmate for help with additional settings. Finally, watch the signal light on the unit, while adjusting the unit's button for the incoming signal (TRIM), if needed to make the signal stronger.
With the playhead at the beginning of the file, click the RECORD button and begin speaking, singing, or playing. If speaking, speak about 1"-to-3" from the microphone. If playing, you can be further away. PLEASE watch the track's VU METER to be sure your signal is strong but without clipping. (NOTE: If you hear a steady clicking, turn off GarageBand's metronome!) After recording, rewind and playback to audition how it sounds. Play your recording for your teacher.
FOCUSRITE SCARLETT 18i8 USB AUDIO INTERFACE. The PHS Music Production lab also owns a larger audio interface with more pre-amps, helpful if you need up to 4 phantom powered (condenser) mics. The Focusrite works essentially like the smaller M-Audio 2-channel USB interface. Look for it in GarageBand's Preferences ("Audio/MIDI") or the Smart Control "Inspector" area.
ALESIS CONTROLPAD DRUM TRIGGER PAD
Alesis ControlPad Quick Start.pdf The ControlPad allows the user to play/record drum parts into a MIDI drum kit track in real time. This is a great alternative to using looped drums all the time or to playing drum parts in with your fingers on the black/white "piano" keys of a synth/controller keyboard. Plug in the pedals (one for kick drum, one for hi-hat) then plug in the unit's USB cable to your computer. Launch GarageBand, set up a software instrument drum track, then hit the various pads with drum sticks to see what the default assignments are for each pad (i.e. snare drum, tom tom, etc.). Experiment with the pedals as well. For complete instructions, download the "Alesis ControlPad Quick Start.pdf" guide (prepared by Oliver G. in the 2011 Music Production class!).
METHOD #4, HANDHELD RECORDER. The lab owns a Yamaha PocketTrak 2G handheld recorder. These are convenient for location recording and have a surprisingly good signal for such a small unit. Your instructor will demonstrate how to use it to the class, following these steps:
Turn it on by sliding the POWER ON button (back of unit) to the right.
Push the Record button once to put it in STANDBY mode. You'll see a VU METER in the LED display. If the signal is too "hot" you'll have distortion. Set the Input Level using the up/down arrows (Fast Forward/Rewind) on the side of the unit.
Push the Record button a second time to record. Speak, sing, or play near the unit's built-in stereo mic.
When done, push the Stop button (you'll hear a "beep").
Extend the built-in USB jack from the bottom of the unit. Plug the USB jack into your computer's USB port. Soon you should see an icon representing the recorder on your computer's desktop. Double-click the icon to open the contents of the recorder.
Click on the VOICE folder, then the A DRIVE folder. Your recording, the most recent one made, should be the .WAV file with the highest number.
Drag-and-drop your .WAV file onto the desktop of the computer (or directly into the GarageBand track window).
We also own a MOTU UltraLite Firewire Audio Interface. This is our best interface, but also our most complex to operate. For information on using the MOTU UltraLite, read the MOTU UltraLite QuickStart Guide, by Sam Palumbo. Here are some highlights:
The UltraLite includes 2 XLR ports for XLR microphone inputs. These channels can be "phantom-powered" by pressing the phantom power button on the unit for each input.
If you want to use more than two XLR mics, you need to:
Route them through a PRE-AMP to boost the signal level. Our pre-amp is the M-Audio Audio Buddy. It accepts two XLR mic inputs, has "trim" level knobs, and 1/4" TRS cable output. This will power up the mic signal. Then..
Use a 1/4" TRS cable to connect the output of the Audio Buddy to one of the remaining 1/4" inputs on the MOTU UltraLite (which ARE NOT phantom powered).
In GarageBand (or Digital Performer) assign each audio track to the appropriate mic input (I.e. MOTU Channel 1/2, MOTU Channel 3, etc.).
INTRO 4, Getting a Signal Into GarageBand (mics, electric guitar/bass, etc.) [HOME]
In this activity, we'll be exploring various ways to get/record music into GarageBand.
METHOD #1, AUDIO IMPORT. The first way involves importing externally recorded audio, such as a track from your favorite CD, into GarageBand. Our goal is to create a 30-45 second "clip" of a track you'd like to share with the class.
Watch the video below (also linked here) for instructions how:
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO TO USE FOR THIS ACTIVITY (from the holiday CD).
or
HERE'S EVEN MORE AUDIO TO DOWNLOAD FOR THIS PROJECT
Here are step-by-step instructions for creating your sound clip:
METHOD #2, USB MICROPHONE. Using a USB microphone is one of the easiest ways to get a great signal (voice, instrument) into GarageBand!
Watch the video below (also linked here) for instructions how:
We have a few Blue Microphone "Snowball" mics in the lab. These are easy to setup and configure and produce a great signal, so I encourage you to use them whenever appropriate. The Snowballs work especially well for solo voice, voice-over narration, horns, and full-room recordings of loud signals (jazz band, etc.).
For this activity, our goal is to setup a Snowball mic with 1 or 2 other classmates, then record yourself either speaking or singing or playing an instrument for NO MORE THAN 10 SECONDS EACH. Here's how:
PLEASE watch the track's VU METER to be sure your signal is strong but without clipping. (NOTE: If you hear a steady clicking, turn off GarageBand's metronome!) After recording, rewind and playback to audition how it sounds. Play your recording for your teacher.
METHOD #3, AUDIO INTERFACE. The lab owns two M-Audio USB Mobile Pre audio interfaces that accepts XLR (standard microphone) and 1/4 phone (standard guitar, bass, or keyboard) jacks. You may want to use this interface to record an electronic instrument DIRECTLY into a GarageBand track.
Our goal in this activity is to record both an XLR microphone and an electric guitar or bass. Normally, we will set up stations and have small groups of students experience each.
Watch the video below (also linked here) for instructions how:
To use a USB audio interface:
FOCUSRITE SCARLETT 18i8 USB AUDIO INTERFACE. The PHS Music Production lab also owns a larger audio interface with more pre-amps, helpful if you need up to 4 phantom powered (condenser) mics. The Focusrite works essentially like the smaller M-Audio 2-channel USB interface. Look for it in GarageBand's Preferences ("Audio/MIDI") or the Smart Control "Inspector" area.
ALESIS CONTROLPAD DRUM TRIGGER PAD
Alesis ControlPad Quick Start.pdfThe ControlPad allows the user to play/record drum parts into a MIDI drum kit track in real time. This is a great alternative to using looped drums all the time or to playing drum parts in with your fingers on the black/white "piano" keys of a synth/controller keyboard. Plug in the pedals (one for kick drum, one for hi-hat) then plug in the unit's USB cable to your computer. Launch GarageBand, set up a software instrument drum track, then hit the various pads with drum sticks to see what the default assignments are for each pad (i.e. snare drum, tom tom, etc.). Experiment with the pedals as well. For complete instructions, download the "Alesis ControlPad Quick Start.pdf" guide (prepared by Oliver G. in the 2011 Music Production class!).
METHOD #4, HANDHELD RECORDER. The lab owns a Yamaha PocketTrak 2G handheld recorder. These are convenient for location recording and have a surprisingly good signal for such a small unit. Your instructor will demonstrate how to use it to the class, following these steps:
We also own a MOTU UltraLite Firewire Audio Interface. This is our best interface, but also our most complex to operate. For information on using the MOTU UltraLite, read the MOTU UltraLite QuickStart Guide, by Sam Palumbo. Here are some highlights: